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Four bodies found in a Mission Viejo house Tuesday were the result of suspect Michael Sheer, 21, shooting his father, mother and sister with a shotgun before shooting and killing himself, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

That belief is based on evidence in the home and a preliminary investigation, the Sheriff's Department says. A motive has yet to be determined.

The three family members who were killed in the apparent murder-suicide were identified as Mark Sheer, 55; Lydia Sheer, 54; and Amy Sheer, 15, according to the Sheriff's Department. All four family members lived at the home.

Deputies responded to reports of gun shots and a man yelling in the area early Monday morning, according to the Sheriff's Department. Deputies patrolled the area and couldn't substantiate the report at the time, but went to visit the home at the request of a relative who located the bodies on Tuesday and believe the report is consistent with the estimated time of death.

Autopsies are still pending, according to the Sheriff's Department, and they said no further information on the investigation or evidence from the scene will be released.